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IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Release No: NR-297-14June 06, 2014

Statement by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on General Joe Dunford

I am delighted that President Obama accepted my recommendation to nominate General Joe Dunford to serve as the 36th Commandant of the Marine Corps. Joe is an extraordinary leader who has always been faithful to his country and his Marines during more than 35 years in uniform. The president and I have greatly relied on Joe's steady leadership as the commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Thanks to his exceptional abilities, and his commitment to the men and women under his command, we have made progress in Afghanistan and remain on track to responsibly bring America's longest war to an end later this year. No one is better suited to write the next chapter in Marine Corps history than Joe Dunford, and I look forward to working with him in his new role upon his confirmation by the U.S. Senate.